In an unusual case of counterfeit currency, a man tried to pay with a fake $10 bill at the "Big Cigs" Valley Dairy store, 1207 N. Fifth St., Grand Forks, just after noon Saturday, but an alert clerk checked it with a marker.
Police responded and talked to the customer, who is from the area and claimed to be a victim himself of the bad money, said Sgt. Travis Jacobson.
He told police he had just previously "got cash from another transaction," Jacobson said. There was no evidence the man had been involved in intentionally passing counterfeit currency, much less making it and he was not arrested, Jacobson said.
But the investigation isn't over and federal treasury officials have been notified.
Most of the counterfeit money seen in the city involves $20 bills, which also are the smallest denomination usually seen, although fake $50 bills and$100 bills also turn up Jacobson said.
